6W August Derleth. Sauk City, Wisconsin: Mycroft and Moran, 1965. First edition SIGNED

Notes

The Casebook of Solar Pons is a collection of detective stories by August Derleth, first published in 1965, and is the final volume of Solar Pons adventures released during Derleth’s lifetime. Like the rest of the series, this book features Solar Pons, a brilliant detective modeled closely after Sherlock Holmes, and his companion Dr. Lyndon Parker, who serves as narrator in the style of Dr. Watson. The stories are set in early 20th-century London and continue the Holmesian tradition of intricate mysteries, sharp deduction, and colorful villains.

What distinguishes The Casebook of Solar Pons is its blending of traditional detective tropes with occasional elements of the weird and macabre, reflecting Derleth’s background as a co-founder of Arkham House and a writer of supernatural fiction. The volume includes some of the more unusual and imaginative cases in the Pons canon, such as “The Adventure of the Haunted Library” and “The Adventure of the Intarsia Box.” These tales show Derleth’s range as a writer, offering puzzles that engage both rational inquiry and eerie atmospheres. The collection solidifies Pons as more than mere pastiche—it is a loving and skilled extension of the Holmesian legacy, adapted for mid-20th-century readers while retaining the charm and rigor of the classic detective story.

Description

Black cloth binding with original dust jacket designed by Frank Utpatel. Volume Five of the Solar Pons tales and one of 3020 first editions. Minor discoloration to dust jacket on the verso and spine. Unclipped. Signed with inscription: “The 45th through 56th tales in the Ponsian Canon. August Derleth”.